Molding apparatus



May 24, 1960 Filed July 5, 1957 FIG L. D. PLASSMEYER MOLDING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Louis D. Plussmeyer y 1960 L. D. PLASSMEYER 2,937,423

MOLDING APPARATUS Filed July 5, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Louis D. Plussmeyer May 24, 1960 L. D. IK=LASSMEYER 2,937,423

' MOLDING APPARATUS Filed July 5, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 H I INVENTOR Louis D. Plossmeyer May 24, 1960 Filed July 5, 1957 L. D. PLASSMEYER MOLDING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR Louis D. Plassmeyer L. D. PLASEZMEYER MOLDING APPARATUS Filed July 5. 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR Louis D. Plossmeyer United States Patent lce jifgiifi.

MOLDING APPARATUS Louis'D. Plassmeyer, ,Zelienople, Pa., assignor to Herman PneumaticMachine Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., :1 corporation of Pennsylvania Filed July 5, 1957, Ser. No. 670,147

7 Claims. (CI. 22-65) This invention relates to molding apparatus and more particularly to molding apparatus including a rotatable flask adaptedfor use in the centrifugal casting of articles such as lengths of pipe and the like. The rotatable flask may contain a mold of compacted finely divided mold forming material. I 1

Apparatus of the general type to which this invention relates is shown in Patent No. 2,449,900. The apparatus may comprise but a single flask or a plurality of flasks arranged in side-by-side relation and adapted to operate simultaneously.

The apparatus shown in Patent No. 2,449,900 is adapted for the formation of pipe of a partciular diameter or at best of a very narrow range of diameters. When pipe of substantially diflerent diameter is to be cast a flask of substantially different size must be employed. 'Prior to the present invention this has meant either the utilization of different apparatus for the formation of dilferent si'zes of pipe or the laborious and expensive procedure of dismantling the apparatus and rebuilding it with a flask or flasks of appropriate size. I

I have devised apparatus which may in a vvery simple manner and in a minimum of time be converted to adapt it to form products of substantially different diameters.

In describing my invention I shall in general refer to a flask in the singular although as mentioned above a single apparatus may include a plurality of. flasks. The flask is rotatably mounted in a cradle. The cradle is preferably in turn mounted to be moved between a position in which the flask is substantially upright to receive mold forming material and to discharge the cast article and a position in which the flask is substantially horizontal for centrifugal casting. The flask is mounted for rotation in hearings in the cradle. Means are provided for conducting lubricant to the bearings.

I provide molding apparatus comprising a cradle, an assembly comprising bear-ing means and a flask rotatably mounted in the bearing means, the cradle having means for receiving the assembly so that the bearing means of the assembly are mounted in the cradle with the flask rotatable in the bearing means, and means adapted to be rendered operative to fasten the assembly to the cradle and inoperative to permit bodily separation of the assembly from the cradle. A separate assembly may be provided for each size of pipe to be produced, each assembly comprising bearing'means with a flask of appropriate size rotatably mounted in the bearing means, the flask and bearing means being connected together so that they can easily be handled as a unit to be introducedinto and removed from the cradle. The assemblies for producing pipe of different sizes are preferably all adapted to be received in the same cradle without modification of the cradle so thatan assembly for forming one size of pipe may be replaced by an assembly for forming another size.

of pipe by simply removing the fastening means, lifting one assembly from the cradle, disposing the other assembly in the cradle and reapplying the fastening means.

I prefer to utilize an assembly comprising a flask'ha'ving disposed thereabout an inner bearing race with an outer bearing race disposed about the inner bearing race and anti-friction bearing means disposed between the two races. The cradle preferably has means for receiving the assemblyso that the outer bearing race of the assembly is mounted in the cradle with the inner bearing race and dash rotatable therein.

I desirably provide the asesmbly and cradle, respectively, with pads which are in opposed relationship when the assembly is in position in the cradle together with removable fastening means cooperating with the opposed pads to fasten the assembly to the cradle. The fastening means may be of any appropriate form, such as bolts.

.As mentioned above, means are provided for lubricat ing the bearings in which the flask rotates. In my molding apparatus the cradle preferably has a lubricant passage through which lubricant. is adapted to be delivered and the bearing means preferably have a lubricant receiving passage for receiving lubricant delivered through the lubricant passage in the cradle, the respective passages being positioned to communicate with each other when theassembly is mounted in the cradle to provide for lubrication of the bearing means. Sealing means are preferably positioned to become operative when the assembly is mounted in the cradle to seal the lubricant passage. in the cradle to the lubricant receiving passage in the bearing means. The sealing means may be in the form of brings. I e

Other details, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description 'of a present preferred embodiment thereof proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown a present preferred embodiment of the invention in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a cradle adapted to receive four flask assemblies, the cradle being shown empty;

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the cradle shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical cross-sectional 'view taken on the line III-J11 of Figure I;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional ,view taken on the line IV-IV of Figure 1,;

Figure 5 is aplan view of a portion of a cradle having two flaskassemblies mounted therein;

Figure dis a vertica'l cross-sectional view taken on the line Vi -Yi of Figure 5 but with portions of the structure shown in Figure 5 omitted for clarity; and v Figure 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on the line VII-=VII of Figure 6.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the

cradle shown in Figures 1-4 is for the reception of four flask assemblies although my cradle may be designed to receive either more or less than that number of flask assemblies. The cradle is designated generally by referencenumeral 2 Since the four portions of the cradle for receiving flask assemblies are alike description of one will suffice for all. Each flask assembly receiving portion of the cradle has at each side of each end thereof upwardly facing pad 3. Each pad 3 has therein two drilled and tapped bolt holes 4. One pad at each end of each of the flask assembly receiving portions of the cradle has therein a bore 5 terminating in the surface of the pad intermediate the bolt holes 4 of that pad through which lubricant under pressure is adapted to be delivered as will presently be described.

Each flask assembly receiving portion of the cradle 2 is adapted to -receive flask assemblies of dilferent si'zes,

i.e., assemblies comprising flasks of difierent diameters rings 6 each having at its top an eye-bolt 7 'so that the assembly can be lifted by a crane through engagement of the crane sling or hooks with the eye-bolts. Each of the supporting rings 6 has opposed generally horizontal projections 8 each having its bottom face 9 formed as a pad to cooperate with one of the pads 3 of the cradle when the assembly is set down upon the cradle. The pads 3 of the cradle and the pads 9 of the assembly are respectively positioned so that when an assembly is set down in one of the flask assembly receiving portions of the cradle the pads 9 of the supporting rings 6 of the assembly will lie upon the pads 3 of the cradle. Each of the opposed generally horizontal projections 8 of each supporting ring 6 has bolt holes 10 drilled therethrough and positioned to be coaxial with the respective drilled and tapped bolt holes 4 of the cradle when the flask assembly is set in place in the cradle. The assembly is adapted to be removably fastened to the cradle by bolts 11 passing through the bolt holes 10 and threaded into the bolt holes 4, there being eight such bolts 11 fastening each flask assembly to the cradle.

Within each supporting ring 6 is an outer bearing race 12 and inside the outer bearing race is an inner bearing race 13 with anti-friction bearing means 14 shown as being in the form of rollers operatively interposed between the outer bearing race 12 and the inner bearing race 13. Within each inner bearing race 13 is a sleeve 15 and carried by the sleeves 15 is the flask 16. The flask is of course common to the two supporting rings 6 of the assembly and the bearing means therein. When the assembly is mounted in the cradle the outer bearing races 12 are in effect fixedly mounted in the cradle and the flask 16, sleeves 15 and inner bearing races 13 are rotatable through the bearing means 14 in the outer bearing races and hence in eflect in the cradle.

The flasks may be rotated in the bearings by any suitable driving means, as, for example, an electric motor operatively coupled to the flask through a belt or chain drive. In Figure 6 the flask 16 is shown as being provided with a sheave or sprocket 17 through which the flask may be driven. This manner of driving a flask is well known to those skilled in the art. When the flask assembly is to be replaced with a different flask assembly the belt or chain drive is disconnected and the bolts 11 are removed as above explained. When the new assembly is positioned in the cradle it is bolted in by reapplying the bolts 11 and the drive belt or chain is replaced.

Each supporting ring 6 has therein a series of connecting ducts 18, 19 and 20 drilled therein as shown in Figure 7 and with their non-operative ends plugged through which lubricant under pressure is adapted to be delivered to the corresponding bearing. When the flask assembly is positioned in the cradle each duct 18 aligns with the bore 5 of the cradle, an 0 ring 21 coaxial with the duct and bore being provided to seal the duct to the bore when the flask assembly is set in place in the cradle. Thus the lubricating connection is automatically established and sealed merely by the setting of the flask assembly in place in the cradle with the O ring disposed in position as shown and described. The duct 20 communicates with a duct 22 in the outer bearing race 12 which delivers the lubricant to the anti-friction bearing elements.

Lubricant under pressure is delivered through a pipe system 23 to the bores 5. The lubricant after passing through the bearings is returned through a pipe system 24 and may be recirculated with appropriate intermediate filtering and cooling.

I have described the portions of the apparatus to which the invention specifically relates. The drawings, which were made from actual working drawings, show other details of the apparatus which may or may not be included in apparatus made according to the invention. Those portions of the apparatus are not described in detail.

While I have shown and described a present preferred embodiment of the invention it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. Molding apparatus comprising a cradle, an assembly comprising an elongated flask, bearing means adjacent the respective ends of the flask in which the flask is rotatably mounted and means fastening together the flask and bearing means so that they are handleable as a unit into and out of the cradle, the cradle having means for receiving the assembly so that the bearing means of the assembly are mounted in the cradle with the flask rotatable in the bearing means, and means forming part of the apparatus disposed locally adjacent the respective ends of the assembly o'nly fastening the assembly to the cradle and adapted to be rendered inoperative to permit bodily separation of the assembly from the cradle.

2. Molding apparatus comprising a cradle, an assembly comprising an elongated flask, an inner bearing race disposed about the flask adjacent each end thereof, an outer bearing race disposed about each inner bearing race, anti-friction bearing means disposed between the inner and outer bearing races and means fastening together the flask, the inner bearing races, the outer hearing races and the anti-friction bearing means so that they are handleable as a unit into and out of the cradle, the cradle having means for receiving the assembly so that the outer bearing races of the assembly are mounted in the cradle with the inner bearing races and flask rotatable therein, and means forming part of the apparatus disposed locally adjacent the respective ends of the assembly only fastening the assembly to the cradle and I adapted to be rendered inoperative to permit bodily separation of the assembly from the cradle.

3. Molding apparatus comprising a cradle, an assembly comprising an elongated flask, bearing means adjacent the respective ends of the flask in which the flask is rotatably mounted and means fastening together the flask and bearing means so that they are handleable as a unit into and out of the cradle, the cradle having means for receiving the assembly so that the bearing means of the assembly are mounted in the cradle with the flask rotatable in the bearing means, the assembly and cradle having pads which are in opposed relationship when the assembly is in position in the cradle, and means adapted to be rendered operative through the opposed pads to fasten the assembly to the cradle and inoperative to permit bodily separation of the assembly from the cradle.

4. Molding apparatus comprising a cradle, an assembly comprising an elongated flask, bearing means adjacent the respective ends of the flask in which the flask is rotatably mounted and means fastening together the flask and bearing means so that they are handleable as a unit into and out of the cradle, the cradle having means for receiving the assembly so that the bearing means of the assembly are mounted in the cradle with the flask rotatable in the bearing means, the cradle having a lubricant passage through which lubricant is adapted to be delivered and the bearing means having a lubricant receiving passage for receiving lubricant delivered through the lubricant passage in the cradle, the respective passages being positioned to communicate with each other when the assembly is mounted in the cradle to provide for lubrication of the bearing means, and means dispo'sed locally adjacent the respective ends of the assembly only adapted'to be rendered operative to fasten the assembly to the cradle and inoperative to permit bodily separation of the assembly from the cradle.

5. Molding apparatus comprising a cradle, an assembly comprising an elongated flask, bearing means adjacent the respective ends of the flask in which the flask is rotatably mounted and means fastening together the flask and bearing means so that they are handleable as a unit into and out of the cradle, the cradle having means for receiving the assembly so that the bearing means of the assembly are mounted in the cradle with the flask rotatable in the bearing means, the cradle having a lubricant passage through which lubricant is adapted to be delivered and the bearing means having a lubricant receiving passage for receiving lubricant delivered through the lubricant passage in the cradle, the respective passages being positioned to communicate with each other when the assembly is mounted in the cradle to provide for lubrication of the bearing means, sealing means positioned to become operative when the assembly is mounted in the cradle to seal the lubricant passage in the cradle to the lubricant receiving passage in the bearing means and means disposed locally adjacent the respective ends of the assembly only adapted to be renderedoperative to fasten the assembly to the cradle and inoperative to permit bodily separatio'n of the assembly from the cradle.

6. Molding apparatus comprising a cradle, an assembly comprising an elongated flask, an inner bearing race disposed about the flask adjacent each end thereof, an outer bearing race disposed about each inner bearing race, anti-friction bearing means disposed between the inner and outer bearing races and means fastening together the flask, the inner bearing races, the outer bearing races and the anti-friction bearing means so that they are handleable as. a unit into and out of the cradle, the cradle having means for receiving the assembly so that the outer bearing races of the assembly are mounted in the cradle with the inner bearing races and flask rotatable therein, the cradle having a lubricant passage through which lubricant is adapted to be delivered and the assembly having a lubricant receiving passage communicating with the bearing means for receiving lubricant delivered through the lubricant passage in the cradle, the respective passages being positioned to communicate with each other when the assembly is mounted in the cradle to provide for lubrication of the bearing means a ing races and the anti-friction bearing means so that and means disposed locally adjacent the respective ends of the assembly only adapted to be rendered operative to fasten the assembly to the cradle and inoperative to permit bodily separation of the assembly from the cradle.

they are handleable as a unit into and out of the cradle, the cradle having means for receiving the assembly so that the outer bearing races of the assembly are mounted in the cradle with the inner bearing races and flask rotatable therein, the cradle having a lubricant passage through which lubricant is adapted to be delivered and the assembly having a lubricant receiving passage communicating with the bearing means for receiving lubricant delivered through the lubricant passage in the cradle, the respective passages being positioned to communicate with each other when the assembly is mounted in the cradle to provide for lubrication of the bearing means, sealing means positioned to become operative when the assembly is mounted in the cradle to seal the lubricant passage in the cradle to the lubricant receiving passage in the assembly and means disposed locally adjacent the respective ends of the assembly only adapted to be rendered operative to fasten the assembly to the cradle and inoperative to permit bodily separation of the assembly from the cradle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,004,293 Molinder Sept. 26, 1911 1,323,252 Lavaud Dec. 2, 1919 1,347,582 Ladd July 27, 1920 2,340,262 Crawford Jan. 25, 1944 2,516,200 Geyer July 25, 1950 2,689,989 Tretheway et a1. Sept. 28, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 344,248 Great Britain Mar. 5, 1931 

